Dress form



March 31, 1959 J. s. sTbnbARb 2,879,928

DRESS FORM Filed N v. 2a, 1955 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 ri l/ 111 IN VEN TOR.

LIE. 551E 5. STUDDARD March 31, 1959 J. 5. STODDARD 2,879,928

DRESS FORM Filed Nov. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JESSIE E5. .ST'UDDARD 5% law- A TTURNEY'.

United States Patent 2,879,928 DRESS FORM Jessie S. Stoddard, Fairfield, Conn.

Application November 28, 1955, Serial No. 549 287 1 Claim. (Cl.223--68) The present invention relates to a dress form and has for an object to provide a device of this character of relatively simple and inexpensive structure, upon which dresses, skirts, and the like may be made, fitted or altered.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a dress form, by means of which a skirt may be supported from the waist band in a natural manner simulating the support of the skirt upon a human body, to enable certain dressmaking operations to be performed, especially the operation of marking the hem line by measurements having the waist band of the garment as a reference point.

A further object is to provide a dress form which may be effectually adjusted to various height and weight measurements.

Another object is to provide a shoulder support arranged for both height and width adjustment, whereby full length garments may be supported upon the form.

A further object is to provide a dress form which may be readily taken apart or collapsed for storage in a small space.

It is particularly proposed to provide a dress form wherein the basic body portion thereof comprises a truncated cone member supported for vertical adjustment, and upon which the waist band of a garment is adapted to be supported, the cone shape providing between its small and large ends a continuous size variation of waist band supporting circumferential areas.

It is further proposed to provide upon the truncated cone, a series of circumferential line markings indicating a range of waist circumferences.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a dress form according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the basic body structure of the form and showing a skirt supported thereon together with a hem marking tape;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the parts of the shoulder support means in separated relation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a measuring tape supporting band adapted for use as a part of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale and with the parts broken away, of a tape measure and a hem gauge adapted for use as part of the invention;

2,879,928 Patented Mar. 31, 1959 Fig. 7 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away, of one of the hoop supporting cord members employed as part of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the adjustment means of one of the hoops employed as part of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing the truncated cone member with an adjustable body simulating accessory mounted thereon;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the body simulating accessory;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 11--11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the adjustment means of one of the supporting rings employed in the accessory illustrated in Figs. 9-11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a hip pad adapted for use as an accessory;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a fabric cover member for the truncated cone member.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-8, the dress form, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention shown therein, comprises a truncated cone-shaped body member, indicated generally as 10, and consisting of a tubular shell 11 of truncated cone shape formed of fiber board, plastic sheet material, or the like, having secured within its upper end a stiffening disc 12 having a central hole 13, and intermediate its ends a stifiening disc 14 having a central hole 15, the shell being secured to the peripheries of the discs 12 and 14 by cementing, nailing or the like. The discs 12 and 14 may be formed of plywood, tempered hard-board, or other suitable material. At the lower end of the shell there is preferably secured a stiffening ring 16.

Upon the outer surface of the shell there are inscribed, printed, or otherwise provided, a series of circumferential line markings 17 of graduated circumferences, each marking having its circumference designated in inches by means of indicia 18, the line markings being shown in the illustrated example as being of varying circumferences from 18 inches to 36 inches.

The truncated cone body is mounted upon a telescoping tripod stand, indicated generally as 19, and which comprises a tubular member 20 engaged through the holes 13 and 15 of the stiffening discs 12 and 14, being held in place by a fixed collar 21 upon the upper end of the tube engaged with the upper side of the disc 12, and by a slidable collar 22 engaged upon the tube at the lower side of the disc 14 and secured by a thumb screw 23.

The portion of the tube 20 projecting downwardly below the disc 14 is telescopically engaged in a tube 24,'its position of vertical adjustment therein adapted to be secured by a thumb screw 25 provided in a collar 26 fixed upon the upper end of the tube 24. Folding tripod legs 27 are provided upon the lower end of the tube 24, the upper ends of these legs being pivotally connected to a sliding collar 28 upon the tube 24, the adjusted position of which is adapted to be fixed by a thumb screw 29. Strut bars 30 are pivotally connected at their respective ends to intermediate points of the legs and to a collar 31 fixed upon the lower end of the tube 24.'

A rod 32 is telescopically engaged in the tube 20, its position of vertical adjustment being fixed by thethumb screw 33 provided in the collar 21, and upon the upper end of this rod there is mounted an adjustable shoulder supporting assembly, indicated generally as 34. This assembly comprises a pair of arms 35 of identical form, but reversely positioned with respect to each other, each said 3: arm having at itsinrier end a right angularly bent spacer lug 36 and at its outer end a downwardly inclined loop portion 37. The two arms are set in a channel bracket member 38 provided in its base portion with a hole 39 through which a'thi'eaded stud 40'upon the upper end of the rod32'is'engaged, this studextendin'g upwardly between the two arms positioned in the bracket where it is engaged by'a spacer sleeve 41. A washer 42 is engaged upon the stud above the sleeve, its diameter being such that it engages the upper surfaces of the arms 35, the washer adapted to be tightened down by means of a wing nut 43 screwed upon the end of thestud. When the wing nut is tightened the arms are rigidly fixed with respect to'the bracket 39. Upon loosening the wing nut, the arms may be slidablyadjusted with respect to each otherso'as 'to increase "or decrease the overall width of the shoulder support, whereupon the desired position of adjustment is fixed by tightening the wing nut. The height of the shoulder support may be adjusted both with respect to its distance from the'floor and its 'distance'frorn any particular waist line measurement upon the truncated cone member by relative vertical adjustment of the cone member and the rod 32. The structure of the shoulder support is such that itwill permit a full length dress to be draped therefrom, and if desired, suitable shoulder pads or the like'may be readily attached thereto.

One or more skirt supporting hoops of adjustable circumferences are adapted to be supported from. the truncated cone member 10. For this purpose a plurality,

preferably three, of hoop supporting cords 44 are supported at equally spaced points from the stifiening disc 14. Each cord is respectively looped through one of three pairs of holes 45 and 46 in the disc, so that the two strands of each cord extend downwardly and their relative lengths may be adjusted by sliding the cord through the holes 45 and 46. This adjustment is frictionally fixed by means of a sleeve 47 through which the two strands of the cord are engaged, one strand having a knot 48 at its end which engages the lower end of the sleeve 47, so that the one strand is moved with the sleeve as the other strand moves through it to increase or decrease the hanging length of the cord.

Upon the lower end of the cord there is secured a hook member 49, preferably bent from strip metal into substantially S-form, and having a hole 50 in its upper end through which the cord is engaged and knotted to secure the hook member thereon. A hook member 51 is slidably engaged upon the cord in spaced relation above the hook member 50, this member also being bent from strip metal into substantially S -form, and having a hole 52 hits upper end through which the cord is slidably engaged, the intermediate and inner side portion of the hook member frictionally engaging the cord to fix the position of the hook member thereon.

Hoops 53 are respectively supported in the hook members 50 and 51, these hoop members being preferably formed of spring metal strip stock. 7 Each hoop member is adjustable circumferentially by having the end portions of the strip overlapped, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, each terminal end having a loop member 54 secured thereon and which slidably engages the overlapped portion of the other end portion. Thus the hoops may be circumfen entially adjusted, and by adjusting the depending length of the cords and the positions of the hook members 51, they may be adjusted as to height and vertical spacing with respect to each other, Theadjustability of the hoops enables them to be contracted to relatively small size, so that when not in use they may be stored within the lower open end of the truncated cone member 10,

\ As shown in Fig. 2, a skirt 55 is supported upon the truncated cone member, its waist band 56 being engaged at the selected circumference area of the cone, for example, at the 21" marking. For the purpose of measuring from the waist line as a reference point for marking the hem line, a tape supporting ring 57 is engaged about the waist band 5 6 o f the skirt, as shown, or if desired, it may beengaged about the cone member above the waist band. This ring may be of any suitable type capable of snugly fitting about the cone member, and of being adjusted to the various circumference markings thereof. A suitable ring member is shown in Fig. 5 and consists of a braided cord 58 having its respective ends adjustably connected to hook and eye buckle members 59 and 60.

A measuring tape 61 has secured upon its upper end a hook 62 which may b'e'hooked over the ring 57 so that the measuring tape extends downwardly along the skirt. By shifting the position of theihook about the ring, markings 'may'be made at desired points around the skirt for the purpose of determining the hem line. Upon the tape there is slidably engaged "a hem gauge 63, preferably formed of transparent plastic sheet material and which has a series of measurement markings 64 extending upwardly and downwardly from a central zero marking 65. In the case of non-transparent material, the zero marking maybe in the form of a hole in the gauge, as "shown, so that theta pe markings are visible therethrough. The'zero marking is intended to indicate the fold line of a hem and markings at equal distances above and below such fold line "are intended to indicate respectively the cutting line and the binding line. A series of notches 66 isprovid'ed along one edge of the marker in line with the measurementmarkings to facilitate accurate positioning' of 'a'marking pen'cil, chalk or the like.

In Figs. 9-l'4 there is illustrated a body simulating acces'sory form adapted to be supported upon the truncated cone member 10 in relation to any selected circumference marking thereof. This accessory comprises a lower section'for simulating the hip shape below the waist line and an upper section for simulating the torso shape abovethe waistline. The lower section consists of a pair of similar side members 67 67 adapted to be connected, as willpre'sently more fully appear, for the width adjustment, and the upper section consists of a pair of sidemembers 6868, also adapted to be connected, as will presently more fully appear, for width adjustment.

Each 'membe'r'is constructed in substantially the same manner and is of generally trapezoid shape, with the upper and lower edges parallel, and the side edges diverging downwardly in the case of the lower section, and diverging upwardly in the case of the upper section. side member preferably consists of a fabric layer 69 of padded, quilted "material, preferably provided at the inner side with three vertical stays 70 secured by stitched tapes 71, two of the stays being provided along the side edges and the third stay being substantially centrally disposed. These stays give substantial vertical stability to the sections, and circumferential stability is given by means of a series of adjustable wire rings 72 retained by In the case of the lower section,

stitched tapes 73. three such rings are provided, respectively at the top and bottom and at a substantially central point, these rings extending circumferentially about and between the two side members 67-67 and their ends being overlapped within the respective sections, so that the circumference of the rings may be adjusted as desired.

Preferably, each ring is provided at its terminal ends with a loop 74 fixed thereto by spot welding or the like, and is slidably engaged by the overlapped portion of the ring. The rings are preferably formed of relatively soft, easily bendable wire, as distinguished from spring wire, so that they may be readily formed into any desired shape as, for instance, into an oval shape as distinguished fromja circular shape, in order to adapt the form to a particular body shape. In the case of the upper section, which is of less height than the lower section, the rings are only provided at the upper and lower edges. Atpoints in line 'with'th' rings, tie strings 75 are secured to the opp'osed edges of the side members so as to tie them together at the desired width adjustment, determined by the circumferential adjustment of the rings 72.

Each 1 The lower side members 67 are provided at each of their upper edges with a band 76 and the upper side members 68 are provided at each of their lower edges with a band 77, these bands being respectively provided with snap fastener parts 78 and 79, by means of which the upper and lower sections may be readily connected together. Obviously, hook and eye fasteners, buttons, or other suitable connecting means may be employed.

The flexibility of the side members 67 and 68 permits them to be shaped as desired to simulate a particular body shape, and if desired, suitable pad means may be interposed at desired points to fill out the desired shape.

An example of such pad means is shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and is shown in place in Fig. 9. This pad means consists of a casing 80, relativelywide at its upper side and tapered or feathered toward its side and lower edges, being filled with foam rubber, cotton, or other suitable padding material 81. Fastening bands 82 and 83 are preferably provided at the upper and lower edges to facilitate securing of the pad to the interior surface of the section 67 by safety pins or the like.

In Fig. 15 there is shown a cover 84 for the truncated cone member 10, consisting of a tube of stretchable elastic material as, for instance, cotton knit or jersey cloth, provided at its upper and lower ends with draw strings 85 positioned in hem portions 86. This cover is adapted to be fitted by stretching over the cone member, the ends extended beyond the ends of the cone member being secured by tightening and tying the draw strings. It

adapts the cone member to the pinning of material thereto, and will also be useful in other operations, such as ironing.

What is claimed is:

In a dress form, a vertically disposed skirt supporting body member in the external shape of a straight sided truncated cone having the upper and lower edges in planes normal to the vertical axis and presenting a rigid external side wall surface continuous circumferentially and between its upper and lower ends, said surface being of gradually increasing diameter from its upper to its lower end and providing a continuous succession of waist band engaging circular areas of gradually increasing diameter downwardly and having a common vertical axis, a plurality of indicia lines located on said side wall surface in downwardly spaced succession and each indicating a fixed waist measurement corre-.

sponding to the diameter of said surface at the location point of each said line, a floor engaging stand vertically supporting said body member for vertical adjustment to vary the height of any selected one of said indicia lines relatively to the floor, a circular ring member circumferentially adjustable to engage exteriorly about the waist band of a skirt disposed in fitted relation about any of said Waist band engaging areas, length adjustable suspension means connected to and depending from said body member, and a second circular ring member circumferentially adjustable to engage within the lower end portion of said skirt extending below said body member and supported by said suspension means beneath said body member in concentric relation to said common axis in a plane normal to said axis and adapted through length adjustment of said suspension means to be positioned at any selected point of vertical adjustment between said body member and the floor, and through circumferential adjustment to coincide with the downward straight line projection of the external truncated cone side wall surface of said body member in any selected position of vertical adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,090 Newcomb May 1, 1894 991,241 Rae May 2, 1911 1,502,457 Brecker July 22, 1924 1,773,955 Couture Aug. 26, 1930 1,968,283 Chace July 31, 1934 2,434,817 Tanzer Ian. 20, 1948 2,481,561 Beall Sept. 13, 1949 2,510,333 Davis June 6, 1950 2,587,745 Maurer Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 645,162 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1950 

